Wire-identifying attachment for timer cables



Se t. 1-, 1,925

WIRE-IDENTIFYING ATT CHMENT FOR TIMER cums 1,551,954" Y J. .HODGART r 1 iled June 5. .1924

. INVENTOR BY I ORNEYS Patented Sept. 1, 19125.

UNITED .STATES JOHN HODGART, or YONKERS, NEW YORK.

WIRE-IDENTIFYING ATTACHMENT FOR TIMER CABLES.

AppIication filed. June 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN I-IonGARr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Yonkers, in the county of VVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire- Identifying Attachments for Timer Cables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is applicable to various types of cables and adapted for a wide range of usefulness, but it is primarily intended as an identifying means for wires leading to the timer of a Ford automobile.

The ordinary Ford ignition system includes fourwires which lead from binding posts on the casing of the timer. These are usually held or bundled together throughout the major portion of their length to form a cable, and the insulation on these wires is of different colors, so that each wire may be traced and each end of each wire attached to the proper terminalof the. timer and coil. After an engine has been in use for some time, the insulation on the ends of the wires which project beyond the cable sheath and which are attached to the timer, becomes faded from exposure or so coated with grease and dirt that their colors are indistinguishable. The substitution of a new timer for an old consequently involves considerable difliculty because of the care which is necessary in avoiding the connect ing of the wires to the wrong terminal of the timer.

The present invention involves an identifying means for'these wire ends which may be secured in place easily and without disturbing or detaching either the wire ends or the operating rod which oscillates the casing of the timer. In its preferred embodiment the attachment includes a pair of clamping members receiving the strands just as they leave the cable and serving to maintain them in separated relationship. One clamping section carries identifying indicia of a character which cannot become obliterated in the ordinary course of use, and which facilitates the proper attachment of the wires to the timer casing. Each wire passing through the clamping attachment is thus permanently identified and the replacement or renewal of a timer becomes a very simple matter.

The invention in its preferred form may also include means associated with one of 1924. Serial No. 717,938.

the clamping sections and adapted to de- 2 tachably engage the cable.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end view of a timercasing showlng my improved identifying device in applied position,

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 38 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4: is a view of the opposite side at tachment from that shown in Fig. 1.

The ordinary Ford timer has a casing 10 provided with exterior binding posts or terminals 11 and a radially disposed handle 12 adapted to be connected with an operating rod for oscillating the casing to retard or advance the spark during ordinary engine operation.

A cable 1.5 made up of four wires 16, 17 18 and 19, terminates adjacent to the casing and the wire ends extend beyond the cable end for connection with the terminals of the timer casing. The other ends of the wires are usually connected with an induction coil. The insulation or wrapping on the several wires is of different colors to facilitate the tracing of the wires and the assembling of the parts.

My improved attachment is applied to the cable end where. the timer wires separate and lead to the timer terminals. As shown, it includes a pair of clamping members. One of the members, for instance the member 20, is in the form of a block and has grooves 22 in one face for receiving the wires 16, 17, 18 and 19. The other member includes a block 23 adapted to be placed upon the grooved face of the block 20 to retain the various wires in the grooves. The two are held together in wireclamping relationship, by suitable means, as for instance screw 24 and nut 24:.

A plate 25 of thin bendable metal is held to one of the blocks by the screw 24 and ineludes an edge aligning with the edge of one block. This plate carries identifying indicia 26 for identifying the various strands held in the clamp. This is shown as a series of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, corresponding to terminal positions on the casing; and also preferably includes the names of the colors of the wires or' strands associated with the first mentioned indicia. I may additionally provide the plate 25 with appropriate pictorial representation.- 28 of the casing 10 of the timer and indicate the particular terminals thereof to which the identified wires held in the clamp should be at tached.

Preferably the end of the plate 25 terminates in a bendable strip or collar bent around the casing of the cable 15 to secure the clamping device to the cable. The metal of the plate 25 and its clan'iping collar 29 is suiiiciently thick so that it may be easily secured upon the cable by bending the ends of the strip to apply and tighten the collar.

The use of the names of the colors on Clamping member facilitates the correct tachment of the clamping memliier to the wires and cable if applied while the colors of the wires are still distinguishable. and the; eaiter it avoids the necessity of tracing the wires. The numbers onthe plate correspond to those given in the instruction book regarding operation and assembly and repair of the car, but the illustration of the casing 10 on the plate 251nal-:es it unnecessary to consult such book.

My improved attachment makes the replacement ot'the wires on the timer casing positive and permits the removal of all of the wires from the timer without danger or? gettin them confused. It also saves time in the 'n'la kingof timer repairs or replace ment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 A strand identifying attachment for cable ends comprising complementary clamping members for receiving and maintaining in separated relationship a plurality of strands extending therebetween, strand identifying means associated with one clamping member and cable engaging means associated with one clamping member.

2. A wire identifying attachment for the ends of timer wire cables, including complementary clamping members receiving and maintaining in separated relationship the several wires of the cable and between which members wires extend from the cable'to the timer, a cable engaging collar sociated with one of the clamping members the and identifying indicia associated with said member.

8. A wire identifying attachment for time wire cables including cooperating clamping .members maintaining in separated relation ship a plurality of wires extending there between, means associated with one clamping men'iber engageable wit-h a cable and corresponding written and pictorial identiiying indicia associated with said clamping member.

at. A wire identifying attachment for the ends of timer wire cables, including comple mentary clamping members between which wires are adapted tobe clamped in separated relationship, a plate associated with one of the members having wire identifyingindicia displayed thereon, said plate having oppositely disposed recesses in its side edges providing a bendable cable engaging collar integral with the plate.

5. An attachment of the class described for the ends of timer wire cables, including 'a pair of con'iplementary clamping blocks one of said blocks having wire receiving grooves therein and securing devices clai'np ing the other block against thegrooved face of the first mentioned block to retain the wires in the grooves a plate attached adjacent one edge to one block and including a bendable end portion adapted to partially enclose a cable, and a reduced portion connecting said bendable end portion with the body of the plate.

6. in attachment of the class described for the ends of timer wire cables, including a pair oi complementary clamping blocks, one of said blocks having wire receiving grooves therein and securing devices clamping the other block against the groove-d face of the mentioned block to retain the wires in the grooves, a plate attached adjacent one edge to one blocle and including a bendable port-ion adapted to partially encircle a cable said plate displaying iiideiiti'l" yiiig indicia for the wires held by the clamping members.

Signed at Mount Vernon in the county of li estchester and State of New York this 2nd day of June A. D. 1924.

JOHN HO DGART. 

